Idaho state softball: Coeur d’Alene loses to Eagle in championship

POST FALLS – The Coeur d’Alene Vikings battled their way back into the Idaho State 5A softball championship game Saturday, but for the second year in a row the Viks had to settle for second.

And for the second straight day, Eagle sophomore Hailey Fisher crushed the Vikings, this time with a fifth-inning grand slam, as the Mustangs claimed their sixth state title with an 8-6 win at Post Falls High.

The game marked the end of a stellar coaching career for Coeur d’Alene’s Larry Bieber, who takes with him 465 victories and five state championships.

“We competed all weekend,” said Bieber, the only fastpitch coach the Vikings have had. “Really, really, really proud of these girls. They competed at the highest level the whole time. That’s all you can ask.”

The Vikings (27-3), who batted through the order in the first inning of all three games they played Saturday, led 5-1 in the first. Jadyn Behm had a three-run double followed by Bryce Catt’s two-run double.

The Mustangs (30-1) pulled to 5-3 with two runs in the third, but Mariah Montee singled and eventually scored in the fourth to give the Viks a 6-3 lead, setting the stage for Fisher, whose seventh-inning homer led Eagle to a 6-5 win over CdA on Friday.

After a rain delay, the Mustangs added a run in the sixth. CdA loaded the bases in the final frame, but couldn’t close the deal.

“That’s a really good team,” Bieber said. “We got nothing to hang our heads about at all. … We had that steam going, but when you play six times in two days, you’re eventually gonna run out of steam.”

All five seniors – Behm, Catt, Kylie Rasmussen, Analisa Raynor and Abby Howard – had hits for the Vikings.

After 21 years at the helm, Bieber said he has no regrets. “I could not possibly pick out which is the biggest highlight,” he said. “Coaching is a wonderful career. But it’s time for me to step aside.”

Coeur d’Alene 7, Lake City 2: Bre Burke and Jane Wilkey combined on a three-hitter as the Viks beat the Timberwolves (20-9) for the sixth time this year. Despite the loss, coach Jesse Lenz took pride in his team’s fourth-place finish. “We made solid contact all day,” Lenz said. “We have a lot of fight in this team and they never gave up. … We want to be right back here, fighting for a title.”

Coeur d’Alene 6, Meridian 0: Burke allowed just two hits and Raynor and Behm each had two hits for the Viks. Rasmussen led the charge with a two-run homer in the Viks’ four-run first.

2A: Orofino finished fourth after 11-1 loss to Malad.